NOTE
The time until the headlights turn off
after all of the doors are closed can be
changed.
Refer to Personalization Features on
page 9-9.
If no operations are done for 3 minutes
after the lever is pulled, the headlights
turn off.
The headlights turn off if the lever is
pulled again while the headlights are
illuminated.
▼Leaving Home Light
The leaving home light turns on the lights
when the transmitter unlock button is
pressed while away from the vehicle.
The following lights turn on when the
leaving home light is operated.
Low beams, Parking lights, Taillights,
License plate lights.
To turn on the lights
When the ignition swi
tch and the headlight
switch are in the following conditions, the
headlights will illuminate when the
transmitter unlock button is pressed and
the vehicle receives the transmitter signal.
The headlights turn off after a certain
period of time has elapsed (30 seconds).
Ignition switch: off
Headlight swi tch: AUTO, , or
Unlock button
Lock b
utton
Type B Type A
Unlock b
utton
Lock b
utton
NOTE
Operation of the leaving home light can
be turned on or off.
Refer to Personalization Features on
page 9-9.
When the transmitter lock button is
pressed and the vehicle receives the
transmitter signal, the headlights turn
off.
When the headlight switch is turned to
the OFF position, the headlights turn
off.
When Driving
Switches and Controls
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▼Headlight Leveling
The number of passengers and weight of
cargo in the luggage compartment change
the angle of the headlights.
The angle of the headlights will be
automatically adjusted when turning on
the headlights.
▼Daytime Running Lights
Some countries require moving vehicles to
have their lights o
n (daytime running
lights) during the daytime.
The daytime running lights turn on
automatically when the vehicle starts
moving.
They turn off when the parking brake is
operated or the shift lever is shifted to the
P position (automatic transmission
vehicle).
NOTE
(Except Canada)
The daytime running lights can be
deactivated.
Refer to Personalization Features on page
9-9.
Turn and Lane-Change Signals
The ignition must be switched ON to use
the turn and lane-change signals.
▼Tu r n S i g n a l s
Move the signal lever down (for a left
turn) or up (for a right turn) to the stop
position. The signal will self-cancel after
the turn is completed.
If the indicator light continues to flash
after a turn, ma
nually return th e lever to its
original position.
Right turn
Left turn
Right lane change
Left lane change OFF
The turn signal indicators in the
instrument cluster
flash according to the
operation of the turn signal lever to show
which signal is working.
When Driving
Switches and Controls
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If dirt or foreign matter (such as ice or
matter containing salt water) adheres to
the windshield above the rain sensor, or
if the windshield is iced, it could cause
the wipers to move automatically.
However, if the wipers cannot remove
this ice, dirt or foreign matter, the
auto-wiper control will stop operation.
In this case, set the wiper lever to the
low speed position or high speed
position for manual operation, or
remove the ice, dirt or foreign matter by
hand to restore the auto-wiper
operation.
If the auto-wiper lever is left in the
AUTO position, the wipers could
operate automatically from the effect of
strong light sources, electromagnetic
waves, or infrared light because the rain
sensor uses an optical sensor. It is
recommended that the auto-wiper lever
be switched to the OFF position other
than when driving the vehicle under
rainy conditions.
If the headlight switch and the
windshield wiper switch are in AUTO,
and the wipers are operated at low or
high speed by the auto wiper control for
several seconds, bad weather conditions
are determined and the headlights may
be turned on.
The auto-wiper control functions can be
turned off. Refer to Personalization
Features on page 9-9.
▼ Windshield Washer
Pull the lever toward you and hold it to
spray washer fluid.
Washer
OFF
NOTE
If the windshield wash
er is turned on when
the windshield wipers are not operating,
the windshield wipers operate a few times.
If the washer does no t work, inspect the
fluid level (page 6-27). If the fluid level
is normal, consult a n Authorized Mazda
Dealer.
When Driving
Switches and Controls
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Adaptive Front Lighting System (AFS)*
The adaptive front lighting system (AFS) automatically adjusts the headlight beams to the
left or right in conjunction with the operation of the steering wheel after the headlights have
been turned on.
A system malfunction or operation conditions are indicated by a warning.
Refer to Contact Authorized Mazda Dealer and Have Vehicle Inspe cted on page 7-36.
NOTE
Headlights do not blind drivers approaching in the opposite direction no matter what side
of the road you must drive your vehicle (left-hand or right-hand traffic). Therefore, it is
not necessary to adjust the optical axis of the headlights when switching temporarily to
driving on the opposite side of the road (left-hand or right-hand traffic).
The Adaptive Front Lighting System (AFS) function can be switched to operable/
inoperable using the personalization function.
Refer to Personalization Features on page 9-9.
When Driving
i-ACTIVSENSE
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High Beam Control System (HBC)*
The HBC determines the conditions in front of the vehicle using the Forward Sensing
Camera (FSC) while driving in darkness to automatically switch the headlights between
high and low beams.
Refer to Forward Sensing Camera (FSC) on page 4-105.
While driving the vehicle at a speed of about 30 km/h (19 mph) or more, the headlights are
switched to high beams when there are no vehicles ahead or appr oaching in the opposite
direction.
The system switches the headlight s to low beams when one of the following occurs:
The system detects a vehicle or the headlights/lights of a vehi cle approaching in the
opposite direction.
The vehicle is driven on roads lined with streetlamps or on roa ds in well-lit cities and
towns.
The vehicle is driven at less than about 20 km/h (12 mph).
Forward Sensing
Camera (FSC)
The recognition distance of the
Forward Sensing Camera (FSC)
varies according to the
surrounding conditions.
The warning light turns on when the system has a malfunction.
Refer to Contact Authorized Mazda
Dealer and Have Vehicle Inspected on page 7-36.
CAUTION
Do not adjust the vehicle height, modify th e headlight units, or remove the camera,
otherwise the system will not operate normally.
Do not rely excessively on the HBC and drive the vehicle while paying sufficient attention to
safety. Switch the headlights between the high beams and low beams manually if
necessary.
When Driving
i-ACTIVSENSE
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NOTE
The timing in which the system switches the headlights changes under the following
conditions. If the system does not switch the headlights appropriately, manually switch
between high and low beams according to the visibility as well as road and traffic
conditions.
When there are sources of light in the area such as street lamps, illuminated signboards,
and traffic signals.
When there are reflective objects in the surrounding area such as reflective plates and
signs.
When visibility is reduced under rain, snow and foggy conditions.
When driving on roads with sharp turn or hilly terrain.
When the headlights/rear lamps of vehicles in front of you or in the opposite lane are dim
or not illuminated.
When there is sufficient darkness such as at dawn or dusk.
When the luggage compartment is loaded with heavy objects.
When visibility is reduced due to a vehicle in front of you spraying water from its tires
onto your windshield.
▼ To Operate the System
The HBC operates to s
witch the headlights
automatically between high and low
beams after the igni tion is switched ON
and the headlight sw itch is in the AUTO
and high beam position.
The HBC determines that it is dark based
on the brightness of the surrounding area.
At the same time, the HBC indicator light
(green) in the instrument cluster
illuminates.
NOTE
When the vehicle speed is about 30 km/h
(19 mph) or more, the headlights
automatically switch to high beams
when there are no vehicles ahead or
approaching in the opposite direction.
When the vehicle speed is less than
about 20 km/h (12 mph), the HBC
switches the headlights to low beams.
The low beams may not switch to high
beams when cornering.
Operation of the HBC function can be
disabled. Refer to Personalization
Features on page 9-9.
When Driving
i-ACTIVSENSE
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A misleading line is picked up on the road such as a temporary line for construction, or
because of shade, lingering snow, or grooves filled with water.
The surrounding brightness suddenly changes such as when entering or exiting a
tunnel.
The illumination of the headlights is weakened because of dirt or the optical axis is
deviated.
The windshield is dirty or foggy.
Back-light is reflecting from the road surface.
The road surface is wet and shiny after rain, or there are puddles on the road.
The shade of a guardrail parallel to a white or yellow line is on the road.
The width of a lane is excessively narrow or wide.
The road is excessively uneven.
The vehicle is shaken after hitting a road bump.
There are two or more adjace nt white or yellow lines.
There are various road markings or lane markings of various shapes near an
intersection.
When Driving
i-ACTIVSENSE
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The illumination of the headlights is weakened because of dirt or the optical axis is
deviated.
The windshield is dirty or foggy.
The windshield and camera are fogged (water droplets).
Strong light is directed at the front of the vehicle (such as backlight or high-beam
headlights of on-coming vehicles).
The vehicle is making a sharp turn.
Strong light reflects off the road.
A traffic sign is in a position which makes it difficult to reflect the light from the
vehicle's headlights, such as when the vehicle is driven at night or in a tunnel.
The vehicle is driven under weather conditions such as rain, fog, or snow.
The stored map data for the navigation system is not current.
A traffic sign is obscured by mud or snow.
A traffic sign is concealed by trees or a vehicle.
A traffic sign is partially shaded.
A traffic sign is bent or warped.
A traffic sign is too low or too high.
A traffic sign is too bright or too da rk (including electronic traffic signs).
A traffic sign is too big or too small.
There is an object similar to the traffic sign being read (such as another traffic sign or
other signs resembling it).
The TSR can be set to inoperable.
Refer to Personalization Features on page 9-9.
▼Traffic Sign Display Indication
The following traffic signs are
displayed on the multi-informat ion display.
Speed limit signs
Do not enter signs
Stop signs
When Driving
i-ACTIVSENSE
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